Cabinet lock



Feb. 23 1926.

E. B. STONE CABINET LOCK Filed July 11. 1922 ll Add I :3 Ha If;

Patented Feb, 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES v 1,574,712 earnest orrice.

ELMER B. STONE, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNEGTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN HARDWARE COBJPORATION, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CABINET LOCK.

Application filed July 11, 1822. Seria1 No.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER B. STONE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and Improved Cabinet Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, while not limited in its uses, relates more particularly to the class of locks provided for securing a number of closures, as drawers in a file cabinet, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a lock mechanism. thatshall be simple in construction and particularly effective in operation.

One form of lock mechanism embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in vertical section on a portion of a plane passing lengthwise through the drawers of a drawer cabinet provided with my improved locking mechanism.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical cross section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 2-2 of Figure 1. I

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing the front upper left hand corner of a cabinet illustrating the position of the lock.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a frag ment of a cabinet illustrating the construction and operation of my improved lock.

Figure 5 is a detail view, scale enlarged, illustrating the operation of the locking bolt.

Figure 6 is a view in cross section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 66 of Figure 5.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 5 indicates the top, 6 one side, 7 the head piece, 8 a stile or side post, 9 the back and 10 the drawers of a file cabinet, all of which may be of any ordinary and well known construction, the drawers being mounted for sliding movement in a manner common to devices of this class and for which reason a showing as to such mounting is omitted from the drawings herein.

The drawer locking mechanism comprises a locking lug 11 projecting from the side of each drawer for engagement with a locking latch 12 pivotally attached to a latch fixture 13 supported upon and carried by a drawer locking bar 14: slidably mounted on brackets 15 secured to a sidell of the cabinet, the latches being spring pressed into engagementwith the lugs 11, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, and the noses of the latches being beveled to permit the lugs 11 to press the latches to one side whenever the drawers are moved to a closed position when the locking bar is in its locked position. All of the drawer locking mechanism thus far described is also old and of well known construction and further description and ex tended illustration are omitted herein.

In adapting my invention to the structure above described, I provide an offset 16 at the upper end of each locking bar 14: that engages with a guide 17 secured to the inner surface ofthe side 6 of the cabinet. A cam. arm 18 is secured'to the offset 16 and projects upwardly and forwardly into a cam notch 19 formed in the side of a locking bar'actuator 20. This locking bar actuator is mounted for sliding movement in a boX 21 secured to the under surface of the top 5 and near one side thereof, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. This actuator is normally pressed forward, or toward the front of the cabinet, as by a spring 22 thrusting with one end against a spring seat 23 extending across the end of the box and into slots in the side thereof, as shown in Figure 4 of the draw ings.

An actuator loclring bolt 24 is located preferably in the under surface of the actuator and projects therefrom into a keeper recess in the bottom of the box 21. This locking bolt is actuated by lock mechanism of any ordinary construction contained within a barrel 26 projecting from the end of the actuator 20 and having a key cylinder 27 of any ordinary form and construction to receive a key for the purpose of operating the locking mechanism. This key cylinder, barrel locking mechanism therein and its connection with the locking bolt 24- to operate the latter will be readily understood by anyone skilled in the art and for this reason a further and detailed description is omitted here- The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood, it being noted that when the locking mechanism is operated by means of a key in the key slot in the key cylinder to withdraw the locking bolt 24:, the spring 22 will force the actuator 20 forwardly, carrying the locking bolt from registering position with the recess This forward movement of the actuator will operate upon the cam arm 18 and thereby force the locking bar 14; downwardly, carrying the latches l2, appurtenant to each of the drawers, out of engagement with the locking lugs 11, and each drawer may, therefore, be readily opened. In its forward position the front end of the actuator preferably projects beyond the front of the cabinet, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. Pressure upon this end of the actuator, as by the thumb, will move the actuator backwardly into its locking position, in which position the locking bolt 24 will automatically move into the recess 25, in a manner that will be readily understood, thus holding the actuator in its rearward or looking position. This operation will lock only the drawers that may be closed, against opening movement. The drawers that are opened, however, may be closed, and when so closed the lugs 11 thereon will automatically engage the latches 12 and thereby lock the drawers in their closed positions and they can be again opened only by operation of the locking mechanism, as hereinbefore described. The cam arm extends through a slot in the bottom of the box, as shown in Figures 2 and 4 .of the drawing.

In accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative, and that the invention may be carried .out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim 1. In a lock mechanism, a movably mounted actuating member and an actuator member of a lock mechanism, mechanical means for operating said actuator member, a cam .arm rigidly connected with and projecting from one of said members into engagement with the other of said members to be actuated by the movement of the actuator mem her under the influence of said mechanically operated means to operate said actuating member, and means for securing said actuator in its locked position. 7

2. In a lock mechanism, a movably mounted actuator, mechanical means for operating said actuator, a member of a lock mechanism having a cam arm rigidly connected with and projecting therefrom into engagement with said actuator to be actuated thereby under the influence of said mechanically operated means, and means for securing said actuator in its locked position.

3. In a lock mechanism, a movably mounted actuator having 'a cam groove, mechanical means for operating said actuator, a member of a lock mechanism, a cam arm rigidly connected with and projecting from said member into said groove to be actuatml thereby under the influence of said mechanically operated means, and means for securing said actuator in its locked position.

In a lock mechanism. a movably mount ed actuator, mechanical means for moving said actuator, a member of a lock mechanism, connecting means between said member and said actuator for operating the former by movement of the latter under the influence of said mechanical means, and key operated lock mechanism mounted in and carried by said actuator for securing it in its locked position.

5. In a lock mechanism, a movably mounted actuator, mechanical means for forcing said actuator in one direction, a member of a lock mechanism, connecting means between said member and actuator for operating the former by movement of the latter under the influence of said mechanical means, and key operated mechanism mounted in and carried by said actuator and including a locking bolt for locking the actuator in its closed position.

6. In a lock mechanism a slidablv mounted actuator having a cam slot in its side, mechanical means for imparting sliding movement to said actuator, a sliding bar having a cam projecting therefrom into said slot for operation of said member by the sliding movement of said actuator, said bar having means to engage members .to be locked to secure them in closed position, locking means for holding the actuator in locked position, and key operated means for releasing said locking means.

7. A look mechanism, a movably mounted actuator, a member of a lock mechanism operatively connected with said actuator, anda key actuated locking mechanism mounted in and carried by said actuator and including a locking member movable inde pendently of said key actuated mechanism for automatically securing said actuator in its locked position to prevent movement of said member.

ELMER B. STONE. 

